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The Chiefs of Keewaytinook Okimakanak met in Dryden on October 7 and 8 to view KO programs and services. Click here to see the pictures from the meeting.

First Nations Agri-Food Youth Program

Donna Williamson, R. R. # 1, South Gillies, Ontario P0T 2V0
Ph: /Fax: 807-475-6993 Cell Ph: 807-268-2004
E-mail: dewillia@tbaytel.net

September 15 – October 15, 2003

Dear: Participant

Thank you; for agreeing to complete the Aboriginal 4-H Youth Survey. The purpose of the survey is to help determine if there is a need and a willingness to implement 4-H programming for Aboriginal youth. The Canadian 4-H Council is leading the survey across the Canada. In Ontario, both the Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario and 4-H Ontario are working together to ensure the survey is completed.

The 4-H Program exists in 80 countries and has over 7 million young members. In Ontario, the program has 7,000 members and 1,600 volunteers. 4-H emphasizes learning new skills and developing self-confidence while making new friends and having fun. It brings together youth from the age of 10 to 21. Over the past 30 years, 4-H has existed in some First Nations across the province. This survey will show if there is continued or new interest in 4-H and if so how to support those who wish to participate in the program.

Due to the vast size of Northern Ontario I will not be able to obtain a wide perspective by holding short interviews in person with survey participants. I would appreciate it if you would complete the survey and email it back to me before the 15th of October. If you have questions pertaining to the survey or the 4-H Program please contact Donna at 807-475-6993 or 807-628-2004 or email at

dewillia@tbaytel.net We, would like to obtain a cross-section of opinion throughout Northwestern Ontario. We appreciate the time you are taking to answer the questions in the survey.

Donna Williamson, Project Consultant/ Youth Representative
First Nations Agri-Food Youth Program (FNAFYP)

"Anything worth doing is worth doing together"

4-H - Aboriginal Youth Survey

Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions. Thank you for your time.

1) What are the needs of youth (ages 10-21) in your community? Please check the boxes if you think these needs apply to your community.

• Social (getting together with others in appositive environment)
• Educational (learning skills that may not be a part of the school system)
• Positive role models
• Cultural (learning more about native culture and language)
• Community (helping others in the community)
• Employment (learning skills that will lead to jobs)
• Other (please list)

2) What types of activities currently fill these needs in your community? Please list. Examples could include sports teams, youth groups, craft classes and cadets.

3) What other types of activities would you like to see organized in your community for youth?

4) The 4-H Program is a community-based educational organization for youth. 4-H Members learn to work together in groups. They also gain leadership skills in while learning about topics that interest them.

Have you already heard about the 4-H program? Yes No

If yes, what did you think 4-H is about?

• A youth group with positive role models
• A group where young people take their calves and horses to local fairs
• Where Volunteer Leaders teach children life skills
• Other. Please list

Note to Surveyor: If No, please explain what the 4-H program is about and hand out appropriate materials.

5) Have you ever been a 4-H Volunteer Leader or 4-H member? Yes No

If yes, when? (Approximate year(s)?

6) Did you benefit from your experience as a 4-H leader or 4-H member?

Yes If yes, how did you benefit?

No If no, what was your experience?

7) Do you think that youth in your community would be interested in being a 4-H member?

Yes No

Please explain why (or why not)

8) Would adults in your community be interested in becoming a 4-H Volunteer Leader?

Yes No

Please explain why (or why not)

Note to Surveyor: Before question 9), you may need to explain what steps are required to become a 4-H Leader/4-H Member.

9) What would you think would be barriers to 4-H starting in your community?

For Volunteer Leaders:

• Lack of adult volunteers that are willing to become 4-H Leaders
• Lack of interest/support from parents (e.g. transporting children to and from meetings
• Too difficult to become a 4-H leader (e.g. completing the application and the police record check form)
• Too much of a time commitment for the 4-H Leader (approx. 6 meetings and planning time for each project)
• People don’t know anything about 4-H in my community
• People think 4-H is for young people who live on farms
• Other. Please list.

For Members;

• Too much commitment for the 4-H Member (e.g. attending approx. 6 meetings, holding an executive position etc…)
• Too many competing after-school activitie

10) If you think that 4-H is a good idea for youth in your community, do you think that it would be better for a new club to be started within your First Nations community or for young people from your First Nations community to join with an existing 4-H club located nearby if one exists?

• Own community
• Join an existing club nearby

11) Would your community have any specific needs in starting a 4-H club?

• We would need help finding 4-H Volunteer Leaders
• We would like educational materials that reflect our culture
• We would need help in getting started
• We would need help in paying membership fees
• We would need help training new Volunteer Leaders to operate a local 4-H Club
• Other

12) Are there any organizations or agencies that could help support 4-H members in your community? (The support could be financial e.g paying for membership fees or club supplies or it could be donating a space for meetings or offering staff members to become 4-H Club Leaders etc…)

13) Would you like to see elementary schools in your First Nations Community start a 4-H Club either during school hours or after school hours?

14) In general, can you see a 4-H partnership in your community working?

Yes No

Please add any comments or experiences you have about the 4-H Program.

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Canadian 4-H Council to study feasibility
of 4-H programs for rural Aboriginal youth

(Ottawa, ON., Oct. 1, 2003)

– The Canadian 4-H Council has received $241,500 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) Fund to study the development of 4-H programs specifically geared to rural Aboriginal youth across Canada. The study is being conducted in conjunction with provincial 4-H agencies.

The Aboriginal 4-H Youth Feasibility Study will research the feasibility of introducing 4-H programs to aboriginal youth in rural Canada through a country-wide consultation with stakeholders to determine the interest for an aboriginal 4-H youth project. Based on the recommendations of stakeholders, 4-H Canada will develop a framework for programs. A summary of results will be released in November 2003.

"We want to determine if there is a place for 4-H in rural Aboriginal communities," said Debra Hauer, project manager of the Aboriginal 4-H Youth Feasibility Study. "Discovering all of the opportunities and barriers to participation in 4-H will help us plan and develop a framework for the future delivery of programs for rural Aboriginal youth."

The present CARD funding is among 40 projects which Minister Vanclief announced last July as part of an $8 million funding package earmarked for 2003-2004.

"Over the past 90 years 4-H in Canada has played a major role in developing future leaders through its focus on citizenship, healthy living, self-esteem, and rewarding hands-on project work, " said Mary-Ann Carson, president of Canadian 4-H Council. "The Canadian 4-H Council is grateful for this opportunity to seriously examine the possibility of bringing the tremendously positive benefits of the 4-H program to rural Aboriginal youth in Canada."

Since 1995, CARD has invested $450 million in national and regional initiatives conducted by the sector. The future direction for further programs will be determined through a series of industry stakeholder consultations now underway. For more detailed information on these projects or CARD, visit the CARD Web site at: www.agr.gc.ca/card-fcadr/.

The Canadian 4-H Council is a not-for-profit agency that co-ordinates all national 4-H activities in Canada. Founded in 1933, the Council offers conferences, exchanges, scholarships and international travel opportunities to thousands of 4-H members and leaders across the country. For more information: www.4-h-canada.ca

For more information, contact

:

Chris Forrest - Communications Manager
Canadian 4-H Council
(613) 234-4448 or cforrest@4-h-canada.ca

Retirement Celebration for

Ruth Baxter

(Cocktail Reception)

You are invited to join the Governing Council and Staff of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute in recognizing Ruth Baxter, who has recently announced her retirement from “active service”. We will be celebrating the dedication, accomplishments and contributions that Ruth has brought to the many people and organizations she has worked with over the course of her career.

Location: Airlane Travelodge Motel – Madrid Room

Date:  Friday, October 10, 2003

Time:  6:00 pm – 12:00 am

Tickets are $25.00 per person and may be obtained by calling Wesley O’Connor at (807) 346-2773, by fax (345-2924) or by e-mail (woconnor@oshki.ca). Tickets are limited and must be purchased by Thursady, October 9, 2003.

Please let us know if you would like to say a few words.

We look forward to seeing you!

In preparation for the KO Chiefs’ meeting (October 7 and 8), several members of the KO Management team met with Carl Seibel, FedNor Project Officer, on Oct 6 in Dryden to discuss the work that remains to be completed within the Smart Communities project. KO submitted a request to Industry Canada for an extension to this project but we are still awaiting approval to take this project into the next fiscal year. Click here to check out the pictures from the meeting.

The following tasks are being addressed by the Smart team and are summarized from our request to amend our existing contract.

Broadband Network Deployment:

• Ongoing maintenance and support for the "first mile" cable and/or wireless solution.
• Technical assistance for other partners to ensure a broad base of capacity and resources are available to support the network.
• Helpdesk support services for network management and training purposes in the use of the different hardware and software resources operating across the network.
• Developing partnerships with other regions for sharing resources and accessing additional applications to address First Nation needs.
• Construction and maintenance of a robust network management system for the public benefit satellite resource.
• Broadband applications such as a remote water treatment plant monitoring system to be planned and financing determined.

Keewaytinook Internet High School:

• Support the development of on-line access to high school programming for youth in the Keewaytinook Okimakanak communities and across the region.
• Open source e-Learning platform ongoing support and maintenance by project staff as well as supporting other agencies to begin utilizing this open source tool.
• Infrastructure development is ongoing in some of the partner KiHS First Nations to ensure broadband connectivity (Lac Seul FN, Fort William FN, etc).
• Transfer of the KiHS delivery model along with the platform will be supported internally and with other First Nation organizations.
• Supplementary Grade 8 core curriculum materials will be made available for students in each of the KiHS partner First Nations.
• Installation of portable classrooms in each KO Smart First Nation to accommodate KiHS class growth and space requirements

Community Information Technology Centres (e-Centres):

• Development and support for e-Centres to provide a hub for SMART service access, training along with network operation and administration.
• Organization and facilitation of technology transfer workshops and demonstrations.
• Increased access to IP videoconferencing, coordination of the local cable infrastructure with the development of a web based cable modem management system, upgrading and providing computer workstations for public access and multi-media including video production and editing services
• Central office for the e-Centre Manager, the local Network Technician, and the Multi-Media Producer.
• Development of public library services and resources
• Partnering with other community agencies to plan and develop additional facilities and resources to address local needs.
• Production of a local sustainability plan for their ongoing operation and maintenance.
• The Centre of Innovation / Expertise described in the telehealth application will be a resource that ensures the ongoing development and support for all the various applications being developed and supported by the community e-Centres including research, evaluation and planning functions.
• Completion of renovations to the existing e-Centre space to bring it up to code with running water and expansion for office space
• Installation of three portables (to be doubled with the KiHS portables) to serve as e-Centres in Deer Lake, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin

Kuh-ke-nah Portal:

• Development of the K-Net Portal (http://knet.ca) as a "community of communities" - a high speed WAN-based gateway that reflects local character and priorities - using open source resources and training support.
• The Portal will continue to support interactive and collaborative relationships among individual users.
• Continue to host web resources that draw on and benefit local people, organizations, businesses and First Nations across the region.
• Continue to support various on-line services including e-mail, discussion forums, personal homepages, community portals and chat services.
• Additional features including live webcasting, streaming audio and video, portal and web development and training resources and provide local and regional links to First Nation businesses, organizations and communities.

Data Warehouse:

• Continue to support and build upon the development of community and regional database projects including KNet News, K-Net Network utilization / traffic data and K-Net photo gallery.
• A major database application developed by K-Net staff is the open source e-learning platform that the Internet High School is now using along with other on-line training initiatives.
• Further development and resourcing of the GIS applications in each KO Smart First Nation targeted to be online and operational in year three.
• Development and utilization of a network scheduling tool to support the use of the various network resources including video conferencing, bridges, gateways, satellite bandwidth, etc)
• Development and utilization of a comprehensive web-based accounting system to support a distributed work place with billing and inventory capabilities.
• Other potential data warehouse applications include:
• First Nation schools ICT capacity
• On-line monitoring and user databases

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth:

• Development of the integrated IP environment for dynamic (data / voice / video) health services delivery across the Sioux Lookout health zone region (24 remote First Nations).
• Explore and test new telemedicine applications over the next three years under the approved business case presented to Health Canada’s Primary Care Health Transition Fund to expand the KO Telehealth demonstration project and its services to other remote First Nations across the Sioux Lookout Zone region in Northwestern Ontario.
• Support the purchase of specialized telemedicine equipment in partnership with other funding initiatives
• Development and operation of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Centre of Innovation for Research and Development of IP Applications in Remote First Nations (Centre of Expertise for Indigenous Learning Communities)

IP Video Conferencing and Telephony Project:

• Partner with other First Nation communities and organizations across Canada to deploy and support IP video conferencing and IP telephony services as a revenue generating stream for the Kuh-ke-nah Network.
• Manage and support the utilization of the Accord bridge and gateway resources in the Toronto hub.
• Expand and support the network membership and the use of these communication tools
• Develop and maintain an IP telephones and support services with the KO First Nations and other partners.

Smart Management and Organization:

• Support the integration of ICT and broadband tools throughout all Keewaytinook Okimakanak programs and services to better meet the needs of the member First Nations.
• Encourage the modelling and support the use of ICTs and smart applications to ensure the increased use of these tools within other organizations and communities.
• Continue to develop the distributed financial accounting system to support member First Nations to access the advice they require to develop smart management systems in their local organizations.

Other Smart Applications to be developed during this period:

• the international gathering to celebrate and share the stories, best practices and lessons learned in the development of broadband applications in First Nations;
• the third year project evaluation process and report that will provide a model and work plan for ongoing community data collection, review and strategic planning;
• supporting the development and expansion of new partnerships for the use of the broadband network and new applications, for example the new Northern Ontario Medical School, other BRAND applicants, other regional clusters, etc;
• application to develop the Virtual Reality Lab resource in partnership with Laurentian University’s MIRARCO initiative, the two gold mine in Balmertown (Gold Corp and Placer Dome) and the new medical school;
• identifying and integrating additional broadband applications and support services into the overall operation of the network and the existing applications to ensure efficient and sustainable utilization of the infrastructure and capacity;
• completing and updating the performance measurement and sustainability strategies as presented within the project business case.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute has been established under the mandate of the Chiefs of Nishnawbe Aski Nation to develop, design and deliver post-secondary programs and services. The Institute is an independent institution and currently offers courses in social services, website development, language and culture.

The Institute is seeking an Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall operations of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute and is the principal spokesperson for the Institute in all communications with First Nations members, federal and provincial government agencies and non-government organizations regarding funding, sponsorship, partnerships, and program offerings.

Reporting to the Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Governing Council, the Executive Director will:

• Oversee the effective operations and on-going development of the Institute;
• Make recommendations to the Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Governing Council for the continuing development of the Institute;
• Liaise with First Nations, First Nation communities and organizations, federal and provincial governments, business, and other post secondary institutions and organizations; and
• Promote Oshki-Pimache-O-Win and its programs.

Applicants should have:

• a Post Secondary Graduate Degree in Education or a related field;  
• significant understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal language, culture, and issues in the NAN territory;  
• 10 years progressive experience as a post secondary teacher, manager or administrator;
• significant experience in budget planning implementation and evaluation;  
• experience working with a Board of Directors, multiple partners and government agencies; and
• fluency in Ojibway and/or Cree.

Salary is negotiable, depending on qualifications and experience.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest and a resume to:

Executive Search Committee,
Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute,
107 Johnson Avenue, 2nd Floor,
Thunder Bay, ON  P7B 2V9

Fax:  807-345-2924

For further information, please contact Steve Chase at (807) 346-2779 or by e-mail at schase@oshki.ca .

Closing date for applications is Friday, October 24, 2003.

We thank you for your interest in Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Robert Hunter, KO’s Data Warehouse Coordinator and Cal Kenny, K-Net’s Graphic Design Technician joined Fort Severn elders and community leaders this week as they travelled throughout their traditional territory. The group are travelling by freighter canoes from one of Fort Severn members’ original communities of Rocksand back to Fort Severn. Along the way, they will be visiting grave sites and other significant sites to identify and document their traditional trap lines, camps, hunting and fishing sites.

Robert is working with Cal and other members of the team to identify these sites using a GPS so the points can be mapped onto a regional map. At the different sites, the elders will share their memories and stories about each of these significant locations. Cal will be recording this information and the trip using the KO video camera. Traditional activities such as hunting and fishing are also being recorded as much as possible.

Plans to use the information gathered throughout the trip include creating digital maps of Fort Severn’s traditional territory that contain testimonials and other documents clearly detailing Fort Severn historical rights to access and manage the resources and lands across this vast region of Northern Ontario. Video material will be produced to support ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the traditional languages and cultures of the people across this region.

Snowfall and other weather conditions have challenged everyone to get this trip underway. Matt Mitchell flew his Caravan to Fort Severn to transport the canoes, supplies and people to the starting point of this adventure. Here on the first scheduled day of the trip, the charter sits idle in Sioux Lookout waiting for the snow to stop. The team did get to fly to Fort Severn on Wednesday but had to stop the shuttle of equipment when another snowfall hit the region on Thursday. Everyone hopes that by the weekend, the entire team will be out on the land starting this challenging journey that is supported in part by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and Industry Canada’s Smart Communities Demonstration project.

George Ferreira, a PhD candidate from the University of Guelph, and Les Meekis, KO’s Community Manager travelled to Fort Severn to continue their data collection and video production training with the local Smart team and community members. The week is filled with the video taping of interviews with community leaders, students, teachers and residents who are utilizing ICTs as part of their work and daily lives. Along with the video taping of individuals, the local Smart team are involved in the planning and development of a short video production that will be posted on-line. The new video production and editing equipment has been acquired as part of Fort Severn’s Community Access Program.

For more stories and pictures of the training and production work, check out the Fort Severn First Nation portal.

Nathan Taylor, Project Officer with HRDC’s Office of Learning Technologies’ Community Learning Networks (OLT / CLN) program arrived in Red Lake on Oct 1 to meet with members of the Smart project team. As part of the visit, Nathan met with the KO Finance team (Penny Carpenter and Kevin Houghton) to complete an audit of the OLT / CLN reports submitted to their office. Today, Nathan and Brian Beaton are flying to Deer Lake to meet with community members and the local Smart team in that community.

In the fall of 1999, KO received a grant from OLT/CLN to assist in the preparation of a business case to develop the "Centre of Expertise for Indigenous Learning Communities". One component of this initial grant was the planning and consultation workshop held in Red Lake in November 1999. KO engaged four resource people from the Telecommons Development Group (Drs. Don Richardson and Ricardo Ramirez) along with Florence Woolner and John Rowlandson to work with KO in the development of this business case.

During the November Red Lake Workshop, KO was contacted by Industry Canada that they were one of five selected from 19 other Aboriginal applications, to prepare a comprehensive business case to become Industry Canada’s Aboriginal Smart Communities demonstration project. A second part of the community consultations into how the KO First Nations wished to utilize Information and Communication Technologies included one community workshop in Fort Severn First Nation in December 1999. These early consultation and planning workshops assisted in the preparation of the winning submission to make Keewaytinook Okimakanak Industry Canada’s Smart Communities Demonstration Project (announced in May 2000). Be sure to check out the "rich pictures" prepared during the Fort Severn Workshop describing how Fort Severn community members wanted to utilize ICTs in their community in the development of better local government, improve their education system and their local health services.

With the successful Smart Communities designation, KO then worked the different government agencies and programs to secure the necessary matching funds to complete the work as present in the business case. In August 2001, a three year contract was signed with HRDC’s OLT/CLN program to develop the "Centre of Expertise for Indigenous Learning Communities" as an integral component of the Smart Communities Demonstration project.

From the proposal ...

The goal of this project is to demonstrate how Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations can collaboratively use ICTs to re-determine their relationship with Canada and the world. This goal is embedded in meeting three primary objectives. New learning and information technologies must facilitate new opportunities for lifelong learning and community well-being; they must support community autonomy, self-determination and governance; and, ICTs must enhance local capacity for sustainable cultural and economic development.

Work on this project has progressed over the past two years, with the successful completion of all the deliverables outlined in the original proposal. These include:

Project Goal:

Empower Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations to take control of the ways that electronic information and communication technologies are used in their lives.

Primary Objectives:

Identify and train six First Nation facilitators to work with Indigenous communities in Canada and worldwide to plan and track implementation of ICTs.

Use Learning Workshop methodologies to determine local priorities for ICTs and to develop community-based action plans, benchmarks, tracking mechanisms and indicators.

Identify and acknowledge exemplary practices, techniques and approaches to the use of learning technologies in Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nations.

Enhance access to learning opportunities that effectively meet local learning styles and challenges and engage culturally appropriate resources and forms of interaction.

Develop an on-line database that captures community experiences, issues, and innovations related to the implementation and use of learning technologies and network strategies to support, modify and manage applications.

Share lessons learned, identify challenges and opportunities and formulate standards of improved practice for broadband network applications in First Nations settings.

Health Sciences North is offering the following Education Opportunities by videoconference using the North Network;

Oct 2, 11:00-12:00 noon CST "Power Searching with Google: Strategies & Techniques"

Oct 9, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm CST "Cool Tools:The Best of the Web"

Oct 23 11:00 - 12:00 noon CST "Uncovering the Invisible Web"

If you are interested in these educational opportunities or would like further information please contact;

Cheryl Klassen

cherylklassen@knet.ca

Telehealth Informatics Educator

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth Services.